BOSTON – Boston Celtics guard Delonte West got more good news this week when a hand surgeon cleared him to start participating in basketball activities.

West, who is recovering from a fractured right wrist, saw the specialist Monday who took x-rays and cleared him to remove the brace he was equipped with and start strengthening the joint.

West said that he has started shooting and dribbling, though he hasn’t regained enough strength to start catching the ball.

“Not catching just yet,” West said. “I’m still a little timid, but I’m getting there.”

West said that he is still about three to four weeks away from participating in team practices.

Game action still isn’t within view. Coach Doc Rivers said that the team is going to move West along at a snails pace to avoid reinjury.

“[Trainer] Eddie [Lacerte] and those guys -- they’re not going to give him an opportunity – they’re not going to put him in harm’s way because one slap and he’s back hurt again,” Rivers said.

West is scheduled to have another CAT scan Tuesday.

Rivers unsure of progress: The Celtics entered the midway point of their schedule with the best record in the Eastern Conference despite battling injuries to key players the whole way.

Rivers said that he is happy with the overall results, though he isn’t sure how things are going to come together the rest of the way.

“Record-wise I’m happy,” Rivers said. “I always think we should have won more, but you never count the ones you probably should have lost. So I’m happy that way.

“Don’t know yet team-wise. We haven’t really had it and I don’t know how much that will impact us honestly.”

Rivers said that he doesn’t know how all of the injured parts are going to blend with the team and that he expects some growing pains as they go through the process.

“The good assumption is that everyone will be back,” Rivers said. “To assume that everyone is going to fit is the wrong assumption.”

Along with West, the Celtics will also be adding center Kendrick Perkins and forward Jermaine O’Neal at some point during the second half.

Celtics say they’re plenty tough: Orlando Magic general manager Otis Smith called the Celtics’ toughness into question after the loss.

When asked by a reporter if Boston should be considered a tough team, Smith brushed aside the notion.

“They act tough,” he told reporters. “They’re not really tough.”

Celtics guard Ray Allen didn’t take issue with the remarks. He did, however, take issue with Smith’s definition of toughness.

“I think in football you can gauge toughness,” Allen said. “In basketball there’s a stigma attached to a guy that always goes to the hole as tough or guys who rebound with a scowl on their face, all of the sudden they’re tough – these guys are tough.

“All they did is grab the ball and throw it out. There’s nothing that really makes you tough about that. I don’t really think if you shoot a jump shot you’re soft.”

Allen said a better measure of toughness is when guys who take charges, get on the floor after loose balls and create extra possessions for their teams.

“The small stuff that doesn’t show up in the stat sheet,” Allen said. “You can have the strongest guy or the softest guy doing those things.”